November 24, 2006
Details of Shula's contract buyout published
The local newspapers have spent half this season discussing Alabama Head Coach Mike Shula's buyout clause. (Not a good sign, huh, coach?) But I don't think I've seen this take:
Birmingham News: Buying out Shula is cheap.
His total compensation for not coaching the Crimson Tide for the next five years would add up to $4 million. The buyout comes from a base payment of $3 million, plus Shula's base salary of $200,000 a year for each of the five years remaining on his contract.Key point: The buyout is payable in monthly installments through the end of the contract. That's according to the new deal Shula and Alabama President Robert Witt signed in May.
But that's only if Shula does not get another job in the next five years, with a football team or a steak house or any other enterprise.
That's because of a little detail contained in Section 5.01 (i) of Shula's contract. That detail is called "Mitigation of Liquidated Damages."
If Alabama fires Shula, he has an obligation "to make reasonable and continuous efforts to obtain new employment." If he finds another job, the amount Alabama owes him will be reduced each month by his gross income.
That's an interesting buyout clause and sheds new light on that $4 million buyout. It's not a lump sum of $4 million, rather monthly payments of $63,492.06 - exactly what it pays him today. It would be as if he never left... unless he gets another job.
If 'Bama fires Shula and he gets another job earning less than his Tide paycheck, then Alabama has to make up the difference. If Shula gets a job and makes more, then 'Bama is off the hook completely. Wow.
Comments:
Randy said:
posted on November 24, 2006 4:39 PM — 66.82.9.81 — link — abuse?
Franchione knew what he was getting into at Alabama and chose to sneak out in the dark of the night, much like "Buster" Brown did at Auburn.
Wasn't that long ago that the powers at Auburn were trying to run "Ears" Tuberville off.
Alabama has done some very good recruting and regardless of who coaches next year, the team should be loaded.
Bill said:
posted on November 25, 2006 10:41 AM — 216.47.212.53 — link — abuse?
I agree with DF ! Mike Shula is a nice guy and it looks like in his contract that he was taken advantage of !
Oh and Randy is just a typical Alabama fan with his little nasty remarks ..They drove the bus for years( buying player with scholarships,just to keep other teams in the conference from having them) and now that they can't do that anymore(prop 48), there being throwed under that bus , somehow they just don't like it ...wonder why that is ??? Oh , too all u Bama fans , Memory lane is now close for future repairs !! So welcome back to the real world !!!ricky sanders said:
posted on November 25, 2006 11:49 AM — 71.12.107.122 — link — abuse?
to bill
talk about little nasty remarks.sounds like jealousy to me.we had the best coach in college football,along with the best program of the decade,so i seriously doubt they had to "buy" anyone.come on,if you had the choice to play for bear bryant,petty loyalties aside,well,thats an easy answer for anyone with brains and talent.and oh,by the way,alabama wasn't doing anything that every other college(and yes,even auburn)wasn't doing at the time.
posted on November 25, 2006 1:52 PM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta said:
Randy, I still to this day don't know how/why Buster Brown left. And yes, I was expecting the Tubbs remark. The main difference between Tubbs' situation and Shula's now is that a overwhelming majority of Auburn FANS weren't trying to run Tuberville out on a rail. Admit it, you Bama folks are just too damn hard on these coaches, regardless of if they played for the Bear or not.
posted on November 25, 2006 1:57 PM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
In the proud tradition of 'Gators for Goff', I hereby wish to commence with the formation of the grass-roots organization to support Coach Shula in this his greatest hour of need. 'Tigers for Shula' (sorry, that's the best I got) shall be a non-profit entity intent on furthering the successes of Coach Shula at his alma mater for as long as possible. Dues shall be $1 per year, just enough so we can get some bumper stickers printed...
goodolnuma5 said:
posted on November 25, 2006 5:40 PM — 24.208.149.244 — link — abuse?
Wow, you Bama guys are tough! What Bama needs is stability. Love im or hate him, Shula inheirted this mess and doesnt need self serving reporters hoping he runs away with his tail between his legs. By the way, what was the early records of the Bear, Joepa, BBowden, Woody, et al? Not sayin this guy is in their class, but even John Cooper kept tOSU afloat B4 the sweatervest.
Bill said:
posted on November 25, 2006 9:41 PM — 216.47.212.19 — link — abuse?
To Ricky
I don't know how old you are ricky sanders , but from your remarks I know you weren't old enought to see Bear Bryant coach and if you were you sure wasn't old enought to know what was going on in College football at the time ! Well my unknowing friend , I can remember Bear taking his Bama team out to California to play UCLA and took 200 players and left 100 at home ! Back then Bama bought players with scholarships and jobs and cash from Alum ! This isn't something I think happened , I know it for a fact . They didn't give these scholarships just to play these guys , but to make sure other schools in the conference didn't get to playing them . And to add to this , there were no academic standards during those time , you didn't have to have a grade point average , just money to go to college ! And the NCAA had no standards or controle over what major colleges did .glenn lee said:
posted on November 26, 2006 10:28 AM — 24.117.2.5 — link — abuse?
This was supposed to be a down year for alabama with a first year starter at quarterback and all the freshmen,give Shula a chance!!all i've heard is Auburn this Auburn that ;one question please?Where is all of your championships. ROLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLL LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR!!!!
BigWarEagle said:
posted on November 26, 2006 8:10 PM — 67.34.195.148 — link — abuse?
Glenn Lee
Your "Got Twelve?" cry is taking on a new meaning, as in "Twelve Coaches Since the Bear". I will tell you what will happen next year, your lame duck coach won't get any top recruits and he will continue to struggle with game management and embarrass himself and your grand tradition. If Bama does keep Shula it will be a Merry Christmas for Auburn fans everywhere.
DD said:
posted on November 27, 2006 3:35 AM — 24.117.165.187 — link — abuse?
TO BigWarEagle:
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE AUBURNS COLORS SHOULD BE CHANGED FROM ORANGE AND BLUE TO PEA GREEN. SAY WHAT YOU WANT, THE BOTTOM LINE IS STILL THE SAME. 12 TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS UP AGAINST YOUR HOW MANY? ENOUGH SAID ABOUT THAT. PEA GREEN. THAT SUITS YOU.
JOHN said:
posted on November 27, 2006 8:04 AM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
Once again I find myself an embarassed UofA alumni at the shabby shortsighted action of the University President and board. I wish Alabama would shut down its football program and send the current players to a quality program with real fan and university support. We need a new president and a board of directors based in reality not fantasy. Any coach worth his salt will not even consider taking over the program after this fiasco. Shula is one more gravestone in the now lenghty list of fine men/coaches who have coached at Alabama in the last twenty five years and then gets dumped on by the University. I wrote a letter to the president of Auburn(whatever his name was) when he tried to satb Tuberville in the back - for doing such a big favor for Alabama football - Auburn woke up and did the right thing by keeping the coach and eventually dumping the president. Alabama should try the same. We have a wormy president who knee jerks decisions like many MBAs are prone to do in this day and time and the result is the fiasco continues. May all qaulity coaches steer clear of this mess.
Benno said:
posted on November 27, 2006 10:26 AM — 12.214.254.245 — link — abuse?
JOHN - I am an Auburn Alum and the only person who wanted to get rid of Tuberville was a scumbag board member with the last name of Lowder. He's is the one person that should be gone.
With regard to U of Ala, I think the when you have problems with a football program you need to give the replacement coach all the support possible. As much as I don't want to say it. Bear Bryant's shoes are huge and everyone there will compare you to him. Good luck.
bamaokie said:
posted on November 27, 2006 2:07 PM — 164.58.184.10 — link — abuse?
I agree the Auburn game sealed his fate. However I do believe Shula should of been given one more year. Where is the responsiblility from the top? Wasn't it an AD who ran Stallings out? Who hired Mike Price? I will give them the benifit of the doubt, I don't think anybody thought Coach Fran would cut and run. (Hope you lose every game A&M!) Whose out there?? Whose out there that they are willing to keep for a long period of time? Since I'm here in the "sooner" state a guy that they should look at is Steve Kragthorpe at Tulsa. He is a very good football coach. He has done a lot of good things at Tulsa. I doubt if they will give him a shot. I just hope they don't try to "stay in the family" and get some old worn out below average coach! A coach who has an offensive mind would be nice!
posted on November 27, 2006 5:15 PM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
Benno: "I got a $10 million donation that says I can stay"--Bobby Lowder You're right, he should go. They rightly fired Walker and told Housel to retire, but Bobby coughed up some cash and voila!No one who does that much meddling deserves to call themselves a true Tiger fan.
Ron said:
posted on November 27, 2006 10:00 PM — 71.228.185.252 — link — abuse?
John, you're right. The University needs new leadership. I've been frustrated with our performance like most other fans, but if you look at the attendance, you'll see we still sell out games, and I think Shula should have gotten at least another year. I think he brought class back to our program, and just needed to "grow" with our program. I don't look for the next few years to be better without him, starting allllll over again.
posted on November 29, 2006 5:54 PM — 64.12.116.199 — link — abuse?
I'm sure that Bama fans don't really care about what Auburn folks have to say about Shula's firing, but perhaps you should take a step back and see what the rest of the country thinks about Alabama's Coaching Carousel: Pat Forde of ESPN has a new article out that addresses it and a lot more. A good read for anyone:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=2678412
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
War Eagle Atlanta said:
posted on November 24, 2006 1:27 PM — 152.163.100.196 — link — abuse?I'm surprised that Shula is still there almost a week after the Iron Bowl. Bama runs off coaches more frequently than any other school. They're so hard on head coaches that a lot of them just leave on their own ( Curry, Franchione ) Shula is a bargain to buy out, so expect it. There's just too much pressure in Tideville to do anything else but...